What is the most important question a person can ask?
Matt. 19:16 TEV- “ Once a man came to Jesus. "Teacher," he
asked, "what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?"
Note: The most important subject in the world is how
to be saved from sin so that we can live forever.
How important is it to know what will happen to you in
eternity?
Matthew 16:26 NIrV- “What good is it for you to gain the whole world but
lose your soul?”
Note: It would be terrible to live here for only 60-100 years, when we can
live for all eternity - if we prepare. We are born sinful in a sinful world. We are
born going away from Heaven. We can only be saved if we change directions, and
allow Jesus to control our lives.
How can we live for all eternity?
John 3:5 NirV- “What I am telling you is true. No one can see God’s
kingdom without being born
again.”
Note: Being ‘born again’ is changing directions. Instead of heading toward
Hell, we turn toward Heaven. We have selfish natures, and cannot save
ourselves. Only God can save us by His power.
How can we be ‘born again’?
John 3:16, 17 TEV- “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only
Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its
savior.” Ephesians 2:8 NCV “I mean that you have been saved by
grace because you believe. You did not save yourselves. It was a gift from God.”
Note: We see our sinful condition. We want change. We ask God to come and live
in us.. We ask God to change us from the inside out to be like Him. We ask God
to forgive our sins, and cover us with Jesus perfect character. We then appear
before the Father as if we had never sinned. If we die in the next moment, we
are saved for eternity.
How could Jesus die in our place instead of us?
2 Cor. 5:21 NIrV “Christ didn’t have any sin. But God made Him become
sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for
us.”
Note: God said if man disobeyed, man would die. The penalty for sin is eternal
death. But, the Creator Himself may pay the death penalty for us. So Jesus took
our sins on Himself, and died in our place, as our substitute (alternate).
Why do we need to be “born again”?
Romans 3:23 NIrV- “Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s
glory.”
Romans 5:12 CEV- “Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the
world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die.” Romans 6:23 NirV- “When you sin, the pay you get is death.
But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our
Lord has done.”
What has God done to bring us back to Himself?
John 3:16 TEV- “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only
Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”
What will God do with our sins?
1 John 1:9 CEV- “But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be
trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.” Micah 7:19 NirV- “Once again you will show loving concern for us. You
will completely wipe out the evil things we’ve done. You will throw all our
sins into the bottom of the sea.”
Note: The good things we have done and our bad deeds are all recorded in
Heaven. We will be judged according to what is written. But, as soon as we ask
for forgiveness, pardon is written by our name and the record of our sins.
Later, in the final judgment, the record will be erased if we have been truly
sorry for our sins.
How does becoming a Christian change your life?
2 Cor. 5:17 NLV - “What this means is that those who become Christians
become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A
new life has begun!”
How does God change you from the inside out?
Psalm 51:10 NirV - “God, create a pure heart in me. Give me a new
spirit that is faithful to you.” or CEV- “Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again.”
Note: When we are born again, we switch bosses. Before Satan was in charge.
After, it is Jesus. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to take away our sinful wishes.
As we walk daily with Christ, what we want will be what He wants. Our thoughts
become like His thoughts. By constantly looking to Jesus, we are changed. As a
computer can change programs, so our minds are given a new program by the Holy
Spirit. Sinful things we liked before, we come to hate. Spiritual things we
hated, we learn to like.
What is one way we can know if we are ‘born again’?
1 John 3:14 NirV- “We know that we have left our old dead condition and
entered into new life. We know it because we love our brothers and sisters.
Those who do not are still living in their old condition.”
Note: The heart of Christianity and God’s law, is true, deep, caring love. We
know true Christians by the love they show for both their friends, and their
enemies.
Will ‘born again’ people keep on planning to sin?
1 John 3:9 ICB- “When God makes someone his child, that person does
not go on sinning. The new life God gave that person stays in him. So he is not
able to go on sinning, because he has become a child of God’.
Note: A true Christian may be caught in a moment of weakness, and fall. But, a
true Christian will not be planning to continue doing the same sin. True love
will not allow us to keep on planning the same unloving acts.
When we give ourselves fully to God, will we love Him
enough to obey?
1 John 2:3-6 CEV- “When we obey God, we are sure that we know him. But
if we claim to know him and don't obey him, we are lying and the truth isn't in
our hearts. We truly love God only when we obey him as we should, and then we know that we belong to him. If
we say we are his, we must follow the example of Christ.
Note- Jesus makes it clear that if we truly love Him, we decide to obey Him
fully.
Will God accept anyone no matter what they have done?
John 6:37 NIrV - “Everyone the Father gives me will come to me. I will
never send away anyone who comes to me.”
Note- There is no sin that is too bad for God to forgive. But, if we keep
pushing God away, it is possible to finally seal our minds away from the
working of the Holy Spirit. God will not force Himself on us. But, as long as
there is hope, God will not give up!
Is it safe to put off a decision for God?
2 Corinthians 6:2 CEV- “In the Scriptures God says, "When the time came,
I listened to you, and when you needed help, I came to save you." That
time has come. This is the day for you to be saved.”
From the EASY READING BIBLE STUDIES.
If these things are clear to you, happy are you if you do them. - John 13:17
Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you that if you had faith you would see the glory of
God? - John 11:40
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the harmony of the Holy Spirit, be with you. - 2 Corithians 13:14
Be in peace and until next time.
---------------------------------
By João Caboclo da Silva Filho - Contact me at johncaboclo@gmail.com
Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you that if you had faith you would see the glory of
God? - John 11:40
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the harmony of the Holy Spirit, be with you. - 2 Corithians 13:14
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